Rafa Benitez reacts to Chelsea's £18million interest in Jamaal Lascelles

The big-spending Premier League giants have been linked with an £18million move for Lascelles when the transfer window reopens in January.

But Benitez has shrugged off the specualtion, and says the 22-year-old defender is focused on Newcastle’s promotion push.

He said: “To be fair I was talking with Jamaal this week because I read a lot of things in the press.

“He is quite happy and training well.

“He is concentrating on playing football and that’s it.”